The world is currently gathering in Glasgow, United Kingdom for the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) with its ambitious objective of uniting the world to tackle climate change. The African Development Bank Group (the Bank) leverages on its participation to amplify Africa’s voice and priorities on climate change and to foster inclusive climate resilience.
The @AfDB_Group is committed to coal-free investments and to promoting renewable energy. According to the #AfDB President @akin_adesina “Coal is the past, renewable energy is the future” #COP26
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This post on an African perspective on COP26 could normally stop by referencing the High-Level Event: The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Summit with Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group and numerous African and international leaders. If you have not listened in, we suggest you do as our post is building on and complementary to it.
At COP 26, countries are requested to come forward with ambitious 2030 emission reduction targets stated in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Strategies (LTS) that align with reaching net-zero and a climate-resilient future by 2050. To deliver on these ambitious targets, drastic measures are expected, for example acceleration of the phaseout of coal and investments in renewables. In this regard, the Bank has recently committed to coal-free investments and to promoting renewable energy as indicated by President Adesina: “Coal is the past, renewable energy is the future”.
Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change and climate variability, with almost all top 10 world’s most vulnerable countries based in Sub-Saharan Africa. Several African regions are considered climate-change hotspots, exposed to conflicts and violence, face state of water scarcity, damaged coastal infrastructure, poorer crop yields and production.
In this context, it is imperative to leave no one behind in our collective efforts to achieve the Bank’s High-5s, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2063 and Silencing the Guns, and the Paris Agreement’s goals. Time is not on our side.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation provide opportunities for African countries to harness their huge resource potential, by putting sustainability at the centre of Africa’s development agenda. It is worth noting that addressing climate change in Africa comes with significant market opportunities, especially for the private sector and institutional investors. We also need to see much closer civil society engagement to tailor climate solutions to the local contexts.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation provide opportunities for African countries to harness their huge resource potential, by putting sustainability at the center of Africa’s development agenda #COP26
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So, what could be achieved to ensure opportunities are seized and not wasted? Some notable achievements should include:
Strengthened Africa’s Negotiation Position
We will witness increased frequency and intensity of extreme climates and natural disasters, which will continue even if emissions are reduced, so we know we need adaptation, and climate resilience to deal with these devastating effects. The Bank supports the Africa Group of Negotiators to emphasise Africa’s demand for adaptation as a number one priority for the continent. This includes ensuring that adaptation is given due consideration at COP26 so that highly vulnerable countries are well equipped with capacity, finance and technology to adapt to the adverse climate conditions and able to protect and restore ecosystems and sustain their livelihoods.
The Bank along with other continental organisations, including the Committee of African Heads of State on Climate Change and the African Ministerial Council on the Environment, are committed to ensuring that Africa continues speaking in a unified voice, in order to secure tangible commitments that meet Africa’s expectations and concerns on climate change.
Significant mobilisation of new financial resources.
Africa will need to invest more than $3 trillion in mitigation and adaptation by 2030 in order to implement its NDCs. Since the Paris Agreement entered into force in 2016, the Bank has invested $12.3 billion in climate actions.
In light of this, new financial resources could be mobilised through enhanced strategic partnerships for climate finance mobilisation and effective implementation of climate action across the continent, including securing $6-8 billion (as a floor) of new climate finance for the Bank’s Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP). Through this flagship initiative, the Bank is partnering with the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) to mobilise $25 billion for adaptation, half of which will be provided by the Bank from its own resources.
The Bank is also spearheading the $20 billion Desert-to-Power program to create the world’s largest solar zone to provide electricity to 250 million people in the Sahel, building on some of our success stories such as Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex Project in Morocco, and the Lake Turkana wind power project in northern Kenya –the single largest wind farm in Africa.
We also recently committed $6.5 billion to support the Great Green Wall (GGW) which is arguably one of the most ambitious sustainable development and climate resilience programs in Africa to address the pressing challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, food insecurity, energy poverty in the Sahel region, Horn of Africa and beyond. The GGW in the Sahel is an example of how we can advance resilience, strengthen ecosystem-approaches, boost livelihoods and decent jobs, especially for women and youth.
It is also important to highlight existing, flexible financing vehicles such as the bank’s Transition Support Facility (TSF) which are ideally placed to integrate donor resources cost-efficiently and effectively to maximise climate resilience mainstreaming in Bank-funded projects in fragile contexts/countries in transition. We want to do much more co-financing and the TSF can help donors channel their climate financing directly to where it is needed.
Beyond crucial financial contributions, political will and continued commitment to delivery even during challenging times as we are currently experiencing with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic are core.
Africa needs sustainable energy access based on adequate, affordable and secure supply. In 2016, the @AfDB_Group launched its New Deal on Energy for Africa, a transformative partnership to light up and power Africa by 2025 #COP26
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Shape the global COP26 narrative on Energy Transition
Africa needs sustainable energy access based on adequate, affordable and secure supply. A just energy transition for Africa has to consider the fact that 75% of the population without electricity access live in sub-Saharan Africa; and 600,000 Africans (mostly women and children) die every year due to indoor pollution related to the use of wood feedstock for cooking or lighting. The continent’s energy mixes must meet these criteria for its development and industrialisation.
In 2016, the Bank launched its New Deal on Energy for Africa, a transformative partnership to light up and power Africa by 2025. The Bank has placed renewable energy at the top of its agenda and since the launch of its New Deal on Energy for Africa, 83% of all generation projects financed by the Bank were renewable energy projects – increasing from 9% during the period 2001 – 2010.
Moving ahead from COP 26 to COP 27 in Africa
While the Bank has actively prepared for and hosts the African Pavilion at COP26, it is important to note that COP27 in 2022 will be held in Africa (Egypt). As the outgoing COP26 Presidency, the UK can play an important role for a smooth transition and in making COP27 a success.
The Bank is committed to working closely with the UK and Egypt and key African climate change stakeholders and international partners, to ensure a successful COP27 in Africa.
In alignment with the Bank’s Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa we will build on existing and look forward to expand partnerships in support of Africa’s transition towards climate resilience. Join us also for the “Bridging the gap: Directing climate finance to communities affected by conflict and violence” session jointly organised with ICRC on 11 November 2021 from 3:00-4:30pm GMT (livestream here).
We hope that COP26 will mark a critical milestone in global climate negotiations and promises to be a landmark meeting for climate action.
Yero BALDEH, is the Director, Transition States Coordination Office at the African Development Bank and Al Hamdou DORSOUMA, is the Acting Director, Climate Change and Green Growth Department at the African Development Bank.
